University Ave. and the Value of Awareness

St. Paul is a busy place, and University Avenue during morning rush-hour is no exception. The constant buzz of cars, trains, and phone conversations consumes this time of commute. So often forgotten is the humble sunrise. There was nothing spectacular about that morning’s sunrise, just a light golden glow above the White Castle. That morning, the sun didn’t ignite the sky with oranges, reds, or pinks. Hard to say how many people noticed the sunrise, if any at all.

Just down the block from the Fairview station this man left Iris Park Place. He likely would’ve gone on unnoticed, to start his day as he usually had. He noticed something different, however, about that morning, and stopped to inquire. “So this is like a field trip or somethin’?” He remarked in the general direction of a few different packs of high school students occupying his morning route. Had he not said something, he wouldn’t have gotten his picture taken that morning, and would have begun another usual day.

Tucked back in a snow-sunken vacant lot, this construction machine lay dormant. Untouched and motionless, this bright-yellow contraption had faded into the background, hard to notice unless you found yourself standing face-to-face with it. Not serving any purpose, it held no relevance there on University Avenue. Nobody needed to stop and look at it, so nobody did.

Two men, evidently working for Century Link, prepared for their morning commute. Despite wearing bright neon and hardhats, these men blended in perfectly. They themselves expected to camouflage with the bustle as well as the communal sense of apathy that usually blanketed such a morning. Simply surprised to be approached, these men were happy to offer their existence in a photograph.

What draws these four images together, if you weren’t already able to tell, is their ordinary nature. What’s surprising is, these are ordinary features of University Avenue. When thought about, these four images, and the circumstances they represent are extremely interesting, and individually vibrant. However, when woven together with blankets of white snow and gray concrete, they are hidden from consideration. When in a location as visually stimulating as University Avenue, the natural features tend to be ignored. Unless outwardly projected, human curiosity lays a dormant occurrence. Things that should be so unusual like the construction machine, drawn back and kept from display, blend in with the urban environment. And perhaps most importantly, vibrant people with interesting stories to tell are kept quiet unless provoked. When out in our 21st century world, we are bombarded with stimuli. Our public spaces are so crowded with information that we must decide what to notice. When you next find yourself in that situation, think, what’s really worth noticing?